Below Average CostVery SafeMesa County Valley School District No. 51
Median Income
$56,359
household / year
Median Home Value
$261,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$990
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100
Is Palisade, CO a Good Place to Live?
Palisade is a small town of 2,571 in Colorado, with a median household income of $56,359
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Palisade stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Palisade is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Palisade city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.1
Palisade's overall cost of living index is 92.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Palisade costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Palisade, CO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$261,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$990
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,359
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Palisade's violent crime rate is 153.1 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
153.1 /100k
Property Crime
918.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Palisade is served primarily by Mesa County Valley School District No. 51.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Palisade, CO
National Avg
School District
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51
—
Elementary Schools
27
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Palisade sees average highs of 39.9°F in January
and 92.6°F in July,
with 10.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.9 inches of snow per year.
Palisade's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Palisade roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $261,600 and median rent is $990/month.
Palisade's violent crime rate is 153.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 918.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Palisade are operated by Mesa County Valley School District No. 51.
The district has 27 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 26.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Palisade, CO has a population of 2,571, a median household income of $56,359, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Palisade averages 39.9°F in January and 92.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.5 inches
with about 12.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Palisade, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 81526.
The population of Palisade, Colorado is 2,571 with a median age of 47.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Palisade: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $261,600, median household income $56,359, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Palisade side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.